Manifold system for filtration modules

ABSTRACT

A modular membrane filtration system ( 5 ) includes a number of banks ( 6 ) of membrane modules ( 7 ). Each module ( 7 ) includes upper and lower modular manifolds ( 8 ) and ( 9 ), respectively which are connected to one another to form upper and lower common manifolds ( 10 ) and ( 11 ) for each bank ( 6 ). The upper and lower manifolds ( 8 ) and ( 9 ) are used for delivery of feed and removal of filtrate and waste liquid from the modules ( 7 ). A gas feed manifold ( 12 ) runs along the top of the module banks ( 6 ) and feeds gas to lower gas manifold ( 13 ) through drop lines ( 14 ). A further manifold ( 15 ) runs in parallel with the common upper and lower manifolds ( 10 ) and ( 11 ) and is connected thereto at connections points ( 16 ) between the manifold banks ( 6 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to membrane filtration systems and modules used therein and, more particularly, to manifolding arrangements for such modules.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Membrane filtration systems typically employ a number of like membrane modules assembled together to form a processing system. The use of a modular system enables the filtration system to be tailored to particular requirements of the user without major modifications of the basic modular components. In order to provide feed liquid, and cleaning fluids to the system and to remove treated filtrate and waste from the system, manifolds are provided for connecting the modular components.

One disadvantage of such systems is that, as the number and size of the modules increases for larger plants, the number of pumps and ancillaries increase due to the size limitations of the manifolds servicing the modules. It would be desirable to provide as large a manifold as possible to minimise the number of pumps and ancillaries. Large pumps are generally less expensive than a number of small pumps.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.

According to one aspect, the present invention provides a manifold arrangement for a membrane filtration system comprising a number of membrane modules coupled together, each module is provided with a modular manifold which couples with like modular manifolds on adjacent modules to form a common manifold, and wherein a further manifold is coupled to said common manifold at one or more connection points to provide a further flow path for fluid flow within the filtration system.

Preferably, said modules are formed in a plurality of banks and the connections points are located at connections between the common manifolds of each bank.

The manifolds may be used to flow fluids to and from the membranes including feed liquid, filtrate, gas or air, waste liquids and/or cleaning liquids.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention in a modular membrane filtration system;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a manifold arrangement of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a manifold arrangement of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a manifold arrangement of another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a manifold arrangement of another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawing. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and variations thereof herein, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Throughout the drawings like components will be referred to by common designations.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a modular membrane filtration system 5 including a number of banks 6 of membrane modules 7. Each module 7 includes upper and lower modular manifolds 8 and 9, respectively which are connected to one another to form upper and lower common manifolds 10 and 11 for each bank 6. The upper and lower manifolds 8 and 9 are used for delivery of feed and removal of filtrate and waste liquid from the modules 7. A gas feed manifold 12 runs along the top of the module banks 6 and feeds gas to lower gas manifold 13 through drop lines 14. A further manifold 15 runs in parallel with the common upper and lower manifolds 10 and 11 and is connected thereto at connections points 16 between the manifold banks 6.

In use the further manifold 15 provides an additional flow path for feed and filtrate flow thus enabling the capacity of the filtration system to be increased without the need for a large number of small pumps and ancillaries.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, embodiments of manifold arrangements are shown. In these embodiments the common manifolds 10 are connected at each end to a further common manifold 17. Again, a further manifold 15 runs parallel to the manifold 17 and provides a further flow path. In the embodiment of FIG. 2 the further manifold 15 is positioned to the side of the common manifold 17 while in the embodiment of FIG. 3 the further manifold 15 is positioned below or above the common manifold 17. Similar embodiments are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Having thus described several aspects of at least one embodiment of this invention, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the foregoing is merely illustrative and not limiting, having been presented by way of example only. Numerous modifications and other embodiments are within the scope of the invention. In particular, although the embodiments presented herein involve specific combinations of method acts or system elements, it should be understood that those acts and those elements may be combined in other ways to accomplish the same objectives.

Further, acts, elements, and features discusses only in connection with one embodiment are not intended to be excluded from a similar role in other embodiments.

It is to be appreciated that various alterations, modifications, and improvements can readily occur to those skilled in the art ant that such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of the disclosure and within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Moreover, it should also be appreciated that the invention is directed to each feature, system, subsystem, or technique described herein and any combination of two or more features, systems, subsystems, and/or method, if such features, systems, subsystems, and techniques are not mutually inconsistent, is considered to be within the scope of the invention as described.

Those skilled in the art should appreciate that the parameters and configuration described herein are exemplary and that actual parameters and/or configurations will depend on the specific application in which the systems and techniques of the invention are used. Those skilled in the art should also recognize or be able to ascertain, using no more than routing experimentation, equivalents to the specific embodiments of the invention. It is therefore to be understood that the embodiments described herein are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the invention described and equivalents thereto; the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. 

1. A manifold arrangement for a membrane filtration system comprising: a plurality of membrane modules coupled together, wherein each module is provided with a modular manifold fluidly connected with like modular manifolds on adjacent modules to form a common manifold; and a further manifold fluidly connected to said common manifold at one or more connection points to provide a further flow path for fluid flow within the filtration system.
 2. A manifold arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said modules are formed in a plurality of banks and connections points are located at connections between common manifolds of each bank.
 3. A manifold arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the fluid flowed through said manifold includes one or more of the following: feed liquid, filtrate, gas, waste liquid, cleaning liquid.
 4. A membrane filtration system including a manifold arrangement according to claim
 1. 